hmTv at HMTC Podcasts Ep 465: The Fog of War and Humanity with Richard Acritelli and guest Clarence F Simpson P4 on hmTv
In Part 4 of The Fog of War and Humanity, host Richard Acritelli sits with Vietnam veteran Clarence F. Simpson for a wide-ranging conversation that connects military service, family legacy, and the lifelong impact of war. Clarence shares a remarkable discovery about his Uncle Larry, a quiet family man who revealed late in life that he served with the Tuskegee Airmen as an Army Air Corps specialist, armoring and outfitting aircraft that supported missions across North Africa and Europe. Clarence also recalls learning that another uncle fought in the Battle of the Bulge, a reminder of how many veterans carried unimaginable experiences without ever speaking about them.
The episode then returns to Vietnam, where Clarence recounts the tense reality of leaving the war: being assigned to an ambush patrol the night before heading home, the tunnel systems near Nui Ba Den (Black Virgin Mountain), and the dangerous mental shift that happens when a soldier gets “short” and starts counting the days. Clarence speaks candidly about PTSD, triggers, and the importance of long-term brotherhood through his support group.
From there, Clarence walks listeners through his transition back to civilian life, from working at Grumman and Brookhaven Lab to a long career that followed the evolution of American telecommunications through Xerox, AT&T, and the companies that eventually became Verizon. He reflects on commuting into New York City, the pace of working life, and how retirement reintroduced him to his own neighborhood in a way the daily grind never allowed.
The conversation closes with a vivid memory of September 11, 2001. Clarence describes being at Fulton and William and witnessing the second plane strike, then watching the towers fall from a Brooklyn office window on a flawless late-summer morning. The episode ends with a teaser for Part 5, where Richard plans to explore Clarence’s work with the South County chapter of Vietnam Veterans and his continuing mission to support fellow service members.